The Premier League side, able to offer the attacking midfielder Champions League rather than Championship football this season, hope to get their man for around £20million.

But Villa's price for Grealish, who Bruce called his best player "by a country mile" ahead of Monday's season opener away to Hull, is £35m after the speedy takeover that staved off their financial crisis and need to cash in on their assets.

Spurs target Grealish was hard at it in Villa training on Friday (Image: Aston Villa/Getty)

“They’ve got nowhere near, so there’s no discussion. Let the two clubs find an agreement then, fine, we will see what develops.

“I don’t want to lose him. But it’s football, it may happen. We don’t want to do it but if Spurs want to buy then they will have to pay a premium.”

Bruce said the whole dynamic of the club has changed since the quickfire takeover by Egyptian tycoon Nassef Sawiris and American financier Wes Edens last month.

“The new owners came in, did their due diligence and when I met them, I think they realised who our best player was,” he said. “It doesn’t take you long because his name has been all over the back pages every day.

Pochettino is one of just two top-flight bosses yet to sign a new player this summer (Image: AFP/Getty)

“The owners have made it pretty clear that if somebody wants to buy any of our players they will have to come up with a price the owners are comfortable with.

Bruce has taken the 22-year-old to one side and put a fatherly arm around him to keep him informed of the club’s stance.

“We’re a Championship club and Spurs are in the Champions League,” he said. “The attraction to Jack is inevitable. I’m aware that there’s a human being at the centre of all this.

“He’s a player who wants to play at the top. Since I walked through the door here two years ago it’s always been about Grealish.

Bruce says Villa may still sell, but Grealish won't be the bargain he was before their takeover (Image: Aston Villa/Getty)

“He’s our best player by a country distance. Losing him would be a body blow.

“Before the takeover everyone was up for sale. But we’ve gone from a dark place in two weeks and things are different.”

Bruce also cleared up the situation regarding his own future.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was understood to be ready to replace him if he was sacked, only for Bruce to receive a public vote of confidence from the new owners when they met for the first time last week.

Bruce added: “I’m a big boy and I’ve been around the block. The owners told me in their first phone call that my job was secure. They re-iterated that at that first meeting.”